- In 2004, the late Wangari Maathai who died in September 2011 became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize
- On Monday, August 29, CS Soipan Tuya opened the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies
- The institute, whose construction commenced in 2016, was set up by the Kenyan government to advance Maathai's legacy
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Nairobi - As Kenya gears up to host the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS), the government has moved to immortalise one of Kenya’s environmental activists, Wangari Maathai.
The late Maathai, who died in September 2011 aged 71, founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organisation focused on planting trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights.
In 2004, Maathai became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
On Monday, August 29, Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya represented President William Ruto at the official opening of the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi's Upper Kabete campus.
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Why the institute was set up
The institute, whose construction commenced in 2016, was set up by the Kenyan government to advance Maathai's legacy.
The institute was handed over to the University of Nairobi in May 2019.
Speaking at the event, Tuya said the institute would celebrate Maathai's legacy and thanked various partners for supporting its construction.
"Thank you too for immortalising the great Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai by establishing this institute. I would like to, in a very special way, thank the African Union, the African Development Bank, the Clinton Global Initiative, DANIDA, and all the partners who helped make this institute a reality," Tuya said.
TUKO.co.ke understands that the institute aims to carry forward Maathai’s legacy by promoting research, education, and community engagement in the field of environmental governance, a culture of peace, climate adaptation, sustainable development, and conservation," she added.
The event was also attended by the University of Nairobi's top leadership, led by Chancellor Vijoo Rattansi, acting Vice Chancellor Julius Ogengo, and Chair of Council Amukowa Anangwe, among others.
What is Wangari Maathai's legacy
The CS recalled Maathai's exploits as a scholar and environmentalist, noting that besides making history as the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her environmental work, she had set other records, including being the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a PhD in biology.
"As Kenyans, we will forever remain proud of Maathai's achievements. In fact, from where I sit, I personally draw so much inspiration from her in my day-to-day because, as you know, she also served in the Ministry as an assistant minister," Tuya added.
The Cabinet Secretary said her Ministry will collaborate closely with the Wangari Maathai Institute (WMI) on programmes that will help Kenya and the region overcome challenges posed by climate change, including conflicts over shrinking natural resources.
"I would like to challenge the faculty and students at this institute to especially research and conceptualise the practical nexus of environment, conflict, and peace," the CS further said.
Why all eyes will be on Kenya next week
At the first-ever Africa Climate Summit that is scheduled to kick off on Monday, September 4, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the CS said the African Union meeting, to be staged alongside this year's United Nations annual Africa Climate Week, will be a platform for Africa to showcase her climate change adaptation, resilience and mitigation potential.
Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that the event, which will start with the Opening Plenary of the Ministerial Segment of the Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week, will focus on the theme, 'Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World'.
According to the African Union (AU), this is also an opportunity to showcase Africa's green growth potential and explore financial and development solutions for a climate-resilient Africa.
The event will convene African leaders, and one of the outcomes will be a commitment to take to the global Summit, including the upcoming COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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